Friday, 27 September 2013

Hercules

Hercules

Hercules or Heracles, legendary hero of ancient Greek and Rome. Known for his great strength he was the son of Zeus and Alcmene (granddaughter of Perseus). Zeus fell in love with Alcmene, and when Alcmene's husband, Amphitryon, was away, Zeus made her pregnant. This made Hera so angry that she tried to prevent the baby from born.

Baby Hercules strangling a snake

However Alcmene gave birth to baby and she named him Hercules "glorious gift of Hera". But that did not ended Hera anger. Hera sent two serpents to kill Hercules in his cradles, but the infant strangled them. He grew up and had become a great warrior, he married a princess, Megara. He killed Megara and his children in a fit of rage sent by Hera and was forced to become the servant of Eurystheus, ruler of Greece.

Hercules and the three headed dog Cerberus

Eurystheus obliged Hercules to perform the famous 12 labors, including cleansing the Augean stables, fetching the golden apples of the Hesperides, and descending into Hades to bring back the three-headed dog Cerberus.

Hercules and Deianira

Hercules married Deianira, as he won her hand by wrestling with the river god Acheloos. Deianira later sent Hercules a shirt smeared with poison, which she mistakenly believed was a love potion. In agony Hercules burned himself to death on a pyre and his spirit ascended to heaven.